the fiscal cliff. the house returned to business this week on tuesday at 2:00 p.m. eastern. they will be appointing members to work with the senate on defense programs. live coverage when the house returns here and c-span. the synod -- the senate returns on monday. they will also consider a nomination for assistant secretary of housing and development. live coverage when they return on c-span2. >> joining as and vermont is governor peter shumlin. thank you for being with us. >> it is great to be with you. thank you for being with us. let me begin with some news of the weekend. that is former republican gov. charlie crist is not a democrat. do you welcome him to the democratic party? is this setting the stage as a potential run as governor as a democrat nunn could 2014. >> he was hugely helpful in electing president obama. it is a great victory for us. he is an incredibly capable victor. we do not take sides before we know that we have one single candidate. everyone knows he was a great governor. he led